The Department of Natural Resources announced that the fourth annual Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Music Festival is scheduled for Aug. 22-24. The organizers are hard at work preparing for the festival to be held at the park's ski chalet area. Booking is now complete and, once again, the festival will provide a wide variety of musical styles -- folk, bluegrass, rock and roll, blues and country.

Headliners for this year include Enter the Haggis, a high energy band that blends many styles --rock, fusion, bluegrass, traditional Celtic, folk and Latin flavors to make a sound that is all their own. Also appearing is Mountain Heart, a band that has gained legions of fans as a result of their superlative musicianship, and live performances and Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, whose sound is compared to "Hillbilly Floyd," is a returning crowd pleaser.

"We are fortunate to have such a diverse and dynamic group of independent artists scheduled for this year's festival. The audience is in for a treat of musical varieties," said Don Kermeen, booking coordinator for the festival.

The 2008 lineup also includes special guests John Gorka, Tony Furtado and The Dixie Bee-Liners. Newcomers to the Porcupine Mountain stage this year include: the Australian duo Women in Docs, Lehto and Wright, Paul Mayasich and the Benderheads, Grammy Award-winning songwriter/producer Kevin Bowe and the Okemah Prophets, Squeaky Clean Cretins, Laura Bates and Brandon Foote, Reverand Eddie Danger, Cynthia Rintala & Dave Frank, Zydecology, Summit Stunt Pilots and Black River John. Performers scheduled to return are Seth Bernard and Daisy May, Steppin In It, Rachael Davis, Charlie Parr, Rory Miller Band, Buster's Dream, Greenstone and Yvonne Blake.

The festival also provides a children's area, workshops and a third "busking" stage where amateurs and professionals can play and jam for tips.

For more information regarding the 2008 Porcupine Mountain Music Festival, including ticket prices, visit www.porkiesfestival.org or call Don Kermeen at 800-344-5355.

The festival is organized by The Friends of the Porkies, a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of all users of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The park is a popular tourist attraction, with 60,000 acres of natural beauty located in Ontonagon County.

Reservations for camping at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park can be made by calling 800-447-2757 or online at: www.midnrreservations.com. The park is located 33303 Headquarters Rd., west of Ontonagon.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the entrance. Cost is $24 for resident annual and $6 for resident daily. A non-resident annual is $29 and a non-resident daily is $8.